How to unlock your future

“And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/1sa.16.6-13.KJV

David was the 8th son. He was the smallest, the youngest, and he had no future. He had no exciting plans for an awesome future. The best he could hope for was either joining the military and ranking up- but he was a little guy at this time. Or, he could hope to marry well, though for an 8th son that was a slim chance. Most fathers wanted to marry their daughters off to a first born because they inherited the lions share and got the first born blessing. An 8th son was so far down the list that only a financially poor father would want David as a son in law. 

Or, he could hope their families assets grew to the point that even an 8th son would be well set. He wasn’t a priest so there was none of the things that the levites got (homes, tithes, lands, etc).

So while his brothers were taking on more and more responsibilities and joining the military, he was stuck keeping daddy’s sheep on the back 40. 

So he got a crazy idea in his head. 

I know I’m not a priest. And I’ll never be able to go into the holy of holies like the high priest does. But I remember:

1. I remember an old, washed up, failed prince, who was living as a shepherd, that God called out of the field to go break his people out of Egypt.  He didn’t go into the holy of holies. He wasn’t a priest. God didn’t strike him down for being in his presence unwashed , unanointed, and unholy. God talked to him face to face! He got so close to God that he had to put a napkin on his face when he left the presence of God because the glory he’d been in caused his face to shine like the son!
2. I remember Joshua. He used to go into the tabernacle with Moses sometimes. Sometimes he’d go of his own accord. He wanted to be close to God like Moses! He wasn’t a priest. Most people would have been struck dead by God for doing that. But not only did God not strike him dead, he made him the leader and captain of all Israel after Moses died! He got to divide the promised land up for Israel!
3. Abraham was way past his prime when God called him out of idolatry to follow him. He and Sarah didn’t have kids either. But look at all of us now! Abraham’s kids! He even interceded for Lots family and their cities lives- all the way down to 10! But God didn’t strike him down!
4. Jacob-our father-was a cheating stealing scoundrel. And he was a shepherd like me- though I try to be a better person than he was. But he saw the ladder with God at the top and he wrestled with an angel! 

So David began to pray and sing and write songs to the Lord: “as the dear panteth for the water so my soul longeth after thee!”

Day after day. Night after night. David faithfully prayed and did his job. But all the while he was in hot pursuit of God’s heart. He wanted a close relationship with God like his forefathers had! 

After all, if God met those guys outside of a tabernacle or out of their natural place, why not me?

He didn’t ask for riches or power or position. He simply sought to know God heart to heart. To be close to God became his dream and his hot pursuit!

So when king Saul fell out of favor with God, God sent Samuel to David’s house looking for the next king who GOD DESCRIBED as a man after Gods own heart. 

God didn’t choose him for his family pedigree. There were no priests in his family but there was a harlot. 

God didn’t choose him for his political prowess. All he knew how to do was care for sheep. 

He chose him due to his heart. He longed to know God!

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.27.4.KJV

He sought after one thing!

“For a day in thy courts Is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭84‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.84.10.KJV

He wanted the presence of God more than anything in the world!

“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.27.8.KJV

He had an ongoing communication with God and he responded to God the way that God wanted! He sought Gods heart and face!

And God lifted him up out of the dull destiny that society would’ve shackled him with and made him something no one could’ve ever foreseen: the greatest king in Israel’s history!

Why? 

Because of his inherent greatness? Great wisdom? Awesome tactical abilities? Great organizational mind?

No! 

God named one quality that stood out when he sent Samuel to anoint him.

“But now thy kingdom (Saul) shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/1sa.13.14.KJV

David’s only redeeming quality to make him worthy to be lifted up above his brethren, his parents, his neighbors, and his nation, was that he was “a man after God’s own heart!”

Our ultimate task on this ball of clay where we live is not the tasks we assign ourselves, or life gives us, or our job gives us. 

Our ultimate and number one priority is to seek the face and heart of our God. 

If we don’t like our lives and the direction we seem to be going, if our future looks bleak with few prospects, we need to follow the great commandment:

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.22.37-38.KJV

But to do this, it’s required for us to follow another scripture:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.3.5-6.KJV

This is what turned a shepherd boy into a great king. 

This is what God wants and desires from all of us. Get close to God and watch him transform your life. 

Let him make the plans and execute them in your life. Trust him - and learn to enjoy the ride! 

About spiritual food

 “Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.22.6.KJV

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.6.1-4.KJV

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/col.3.20-21.KJV

“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.30.8-11.KJV

Thought: when a child is born it needs lots of rest and food. If the child doesn’t ever get hungry for needed nourishment, there’s a problem. 

A big problem. 

The word of God is described both as the bread of life and as the water of the word. That’s food and drink. 

Further scripture says that the word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 

If a child of God doesn’t get into the word of God, how do they find and navigate the paths God wants them to walk?

If a born again person never hungers for the word of God, there’s a problem. 

Just as a natural baby desires touch and interaction with it’s parents, if a born again person never wants to be a part of the church (spiritual mother) or in prayer with the father (spiritual father) there’s a problem 

Children should eat fruits, vegetables, proteins, fibers, grains, etc, then get snacks

Gods children are to have the fruit of the spirit, 

the word of God provides proteins for spiritual strength, 

fibers to allow for the expulsion of bad things (repentance), 

grains for spiritual digestion and spiritual heart health, and helps regulate our spiritual sugar in our system 

Vegetables. In our bodies they support immune function, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk of chronic disease. 

The spiritual veggies In Gods word are the things we don’t like. They tell us right from wrong. They tell us to be holy. They tell us to live in sanctification. They tell us to live in consecration. 

This will immunize us from false doctrine and demonic influence. 

Snacks. An occasional donut is good. Occasional junk food is a joy. Sometimes they provide us with a needed boost to get through a hard work day. But if snacks become a constant and large percentage of our diet it messes us up. 

We like services that pump us up, pat us on the back, and make us feel good about ourselves. Those times are fun. Those times are awesome. We love it when he shows up that way. 

But, those times are meant to strengthen us, to give us a boost to make it further down the hard trail we’re traveling. 

If the only time we make a move is when God gives us a boost, then something is very wrong with us. Our spiritual diet ain’t right!

Kids will skip the proper meal and go straight for the ice cream. They’ll claim they don’t feel good or they’re full, but when the cake and candy comes out, their stomach is empty and they’re magically healed!

Too many Apostolic folks have warped ideas. Their whole world is wrapped around feeling the goosebumps 2-3 times a week at church services. But there’s nothing or very little in between the services. 

That’s a bad diet. 

At some point, the child must learn how to feed itself- and they must learn to feed itself correctly. 

A picky child spiritually is worse than a picky child naturally. 

Tell me about heaven, but shut up about holiness. 

Tell me about the superhero God who comes to my rescue, but don’t tell me I’m supposed to put on my own spiritual armor and go to battle with those demons! 

We want the spiritual highs, but we don’t want to die to ourselves to get there. 

We want blessings, but we don’t want the consecration that’s required to get them. 

The Lord says he wants us to come and dine at his table. “Come eat with me my children.”

“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1/ezk.3.1-3.KJV

But he told Ezekiel to “eat the whole roll.” 

Eat whatever I have prepared for you and placed in front of you. 

Gods table is not a buffet. Gods table is not designed for us to pick and choose. 

The master chef knows what we need to eat for our spiritual nourishment and development!

“The word of God is quick and powerful…” and we need it all! 

But it don’t taste good daddy! 

Eat it. It’s good for you. 

But I don’t like it daddy! 

But it’ll help you grow into what I created you to be!

We need a renewed dedication to the word of God! A renewed hunger for learning of him and his ways. A renewed desire for his presence in prayer. 

“Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” -2 Timothy 2:15. 

Come on. Let’s pray.